Mochi said goodbye to us today, 1:00PM EST 12/08/23. 

We first met him at an animal shelter in Texas. We entered the room full of cats, and the first one to greet us was "Stripey". That's the name the previous owner gave him. He immediately jumped up in my (now) fiancée's lap and got comfortable. We knew then and there that he chose us.

We brought him home, gave him a new name, "Mochi," and he quickly settled in as if he always knew he was meant to be with us. All he ever wanted was a lap and belly rubs, and we always gave them to him along with his favorite wet food and treats.

In late 2020 he dislocated a disc in his spine. Anyone else might have decided to put him down then and there, but he never gave up, and neither did we. You all sent your support and love to help him, and thanks to that he was able to make a full recovery and live a happy life to the fullest extent. You can read more about that here:

https://ctneptune.itch.io/mona-and-the-witchs-hat/devlog/191147/help-me-save-moc...

Today we found a tumor in his lung which was causing him difficulty with breathing. We evaluated our options, but none of them had a chance he would make it through them, and we would ultimately be delaying the inevitable while he suffered. We decided it was for the best to let him go while he was still somewhat comfortable. 

He ate a bag full of his favorite treats and nudged us both, as if to let us know it was okay, that it was his time. We spent some more time with him, and he drifted away in our laps, basking in the sunlight peering through the window as he always did.

Mochi wasn't just a cat. He was my best friend. Destitution. Covid. Unemployment. He saw me and supported me through every low point of my life, and I don't know if I would still be here if he wasn't there for me. Every purr, every rub, every day spent with him is a memory I will cherish forever.

We love you, Mochi buddy. We love you. Always and forever.